2 dead in shooting outside New York tourist landmark
Source: Agencies |
August 25, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO people were killed and at least eight wounded in a shooting outside New York City's Empire State Building yesterday, creating chaos and shocking tourists and commuters who witnessed the bloody scene.
A 53-year-old fashion designer, disgruntled at being fired a year ago, shot and killed a 41-year-old former co-worker three times with a .45 caliber handgun on a sidewalk near the landmark building.
Police returned fire, killing the shooter and wounding several bystanders, all of whom were expected to survive, Mayor Michael Bloomberg told a news conference.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly identified the shooter as Jeffrey Johnson of Manhattan, who had worked at Hazan Imports across the street from the skyscraper.
The shooting sparked chaos in the heart of Manhattan at the height of the summer travel season and just after morning rush hour. Police on regular anti-terrorism duties in the popular tourist area rushed to the scene.
Bloomberg said some of the victims may have been hit by police bullets as they confronted the gunman.
"This was a terrible tragedy," he said. "We are not immune to the national problem of gun violence."
Police said they had few details about Johnson, including whether he had a criminal record.
Kelly said Johnson turned his gun on officers and they returned fire but it wasn't clear if Johnson opened fire on the officers.
Kelly said Johnson fired at his former colleague three times at close range after an argument. The name of the 41-year-old victim was not released pending notification of the family.
Federal officials said the 9am shooting wasn't related to terrorism.
Construction worker Chris Ogden told the Daily News he was working on scaffolding above one entrance to the building when he saw someone in a suit and carrying a briefcase start shooting.
"He shot the guy in the head," Ogden told the newspaper. "The guy went down. He took a second shot when he was down."
Ogden said the gunman then casually walked away. "We were screaming from the top, 'It's the guy in the grey suit!'" Ogden said.
"We were just working here and we just heard bang, bang, bang!" said Mohammed Bachchu, 22, a worker at a nearby souvenir shop. He said he rushed out and saw seven people lying on the ground, covered in blood.
Resident Rebecca Fox, 27, said she saw people running down the street and at first thought it was a celebrity sighting. Then she saw a woman shot in the foot and a man dead on the ground.
"I was scared and shocked and literally shaking," she said.
A photo posted to an Instagram account belonging to someone person identified as mr_mookie, an eyewitness, showed a victim, his head propped on the sidewalk and his body in the street, being helped by bystanders. The victim's identity and condition were not immediately known.
A body remained at the scene more than an hour after the shooting. Police scoured the area for bullets.
The Empire State Building anchors one of the city's busiest areas. The website for the building says about 4 million people visit the tower's observatory decks each year, and sidewalks outside the building bustle with people selling tickets for its attractions.
Many others are shoppers drawn to stores along both 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. The shooting occurred at their intersection. Streets around the area remained closed at midday.
A 53-year-old fashion designer, disgruntled at being fired a year ago, shot and killed a 41-year-old former co-worker three times with a .45 caliber handgun on a sidewalk near the landmark building.
Police returned fire, killing the shooter and wounding several bystanders, all of whom were expected to survive, Mayor Michael Bloomberg told a news conference.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly identified the shooter as Jeffrey Johnson of Manhattan, who had worked at Hazan Imports across the street from the skyscraper.
The shooting sparked chaos in the heart of Manhattan at the height of the summer travel season and just after morning rush hour. Police on regular anti-terrorism duties in the popular tourist area rushed to the scene.
Bloomberg said some of the victims may have been hit by police bullets as they confronted the gunman.
"This was a terrible tragedy," he said. "We are not immune to the national problem of gun violence."
Police said they had few details about Johnson, including whether he had a criminal record.
Kelly said Johnson turned his gun on officers and they returned fire but it wasn't clear if Johnson opened fire on the officers.
Kelly said Johnson fired at his former colleague three times at close range after an argument. The name of the 41-year-old victim was not released pending notification of the family.
Federal officials said the 9am shooting wasn't related to terrorism.
Construction worker Chris Ogden told the Daily News he was working on scaffolding above one entrance to the building when he saw someone in a suit and carrying a briefcase start shooting.
"He shot the guy in the head," Ogden told the newspaper. "The guy went down. He took a second shot when he was down."
Ogden said the gunman then casually walked away. "We were screaming from the top, 'It's the guy in the grey suit!'" Ogden said.
"We were just working here and we just heard bang, bang, bang!" said Mohammed Bachchu, 22, a worker at a nearby souvenir shop. He said he rushed out and saw seven people lying on the ground, covered in blood.
Resident Rebecca Fox, 27, said she saw people running down the street and at first thought it was a celebrity sighting. Then she saw a woman shot in the foot and a man dead on the ground.
"I was scared and shocked and literally shaking," she said.
A photo posted to an Instagram account belonging to someone person identified as mr_mookie, an eyewitness, showed a victim, his head propped on the sidewalk and his body in the street, being helped by bystanders. The victim's identity and condition were not immediately known.
A body remained at the scene more than an hour after the shooting. Police scoured the area for bullets.
The Empire State Building anchors one of the city's busiest areas. The website for the building says about 4 million people visit the tower's observatory decks each year, and sidewalks outside the building bustle with people selling tickets for its attractions.
Many others are shoppers drawn to stores along both 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. The shooting occurred at their intersection. Streets around the area remained closed at midday.
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